eBay Japan Releases '2026 Q1 Cross-Border EC Report'

eBay Japan, which has supported Japanese sellers in cross-border e-commerce (overseas sales) for over 17 years through the world's largest online marketplace, 'eBay,' has announced the sales trends for items listed by Japanese sellers during the first quarter of 2026 (January-March).

## Q1 2026 (January-March) Sales Trends

Across the entire cross-border EC market, interest in the asset value and rarity of listed items is increasing, with stable demand observed for high-end categories such as watches, parts & accessories, and collectibles. In an uncertain economic environment, the aspect of these items as tangible assets, which tend to maintain or increase in price, is being evaluated, a trend reflected in both transaction growth rates and search trends.

## Growth in the Watch, Parts & Accessories Category

Watches, parts & accessories ranked in the top 3 for growth for the first time in 3.5 years. Driven by the easing of tariffs on Swiss-origin products in late February and the long-term trend of a weak yen, sales have recovered significantly. This category accounted for approximately 41% of the top 100 search keywords, making it the largest category. While the top search terms centered on standard luxury watches such as 'Rolex' and 'Omega,' Japanese brands also saw gains, with 'grand seiko' reaching 11th, 'g shock' rising 10 ranks to 33rd, 'seiko alpinist' rising 7 ranks to 48th, 'seiko presage' rising 8 ranks to 51st, 'orient bambino' rising 16 ranks to 66th, and 'citizen tsuyosa' rising 12 ranks to 73rd. In addition to their value as high-end goods, the reliability and classic nature of Japanese brands are becoming firmly established in the overseas market.

## Growth in the Collectibles Category

Trading card-related items, including collectible card games and sports trading cards, accounted for about 28% of the top 100 search keywords. As Pokémon cards celebrate their 30th anniversary, prices are rising, especially for popular character cards like 'Pikachu' and 'Charizard.' The ONE PIECE card game also grew significantly by approximately 485% year-on-year, with 'one piece card' rising 9 ranks from the previous quarter to 6th, and 'one piece' rising 14 ranks to 13th in search terms. Regarding sports trading cards, 'shohei ohtani' reached 3rd in search terms in connection with his signed cards, consistent with the rising international demand for sports collectibles. Furthermore, graded cards, which are highly compatible with cross-border EC where it is difficult to directly check item condition and authenticity, performed solidly.

## Q1 2026 (January-March) Category Rankings

- The top 10 by transaction value remained consistent with the 2025 annual rankings, with popular major categories continuing their momentum.
- In terms of growth rate, trading cards ranked 1st with double-digit growth compared to the same period last year.
- Watches, parts & accessories returned to the rankings for the first time in 3.5 years.